What is a Certified Life Coach?

What Is A Certified Life Coach?

Search Programs

Get information on programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Sponsored Listings

Are you considering becoming a professional life coach? If so, you are likely wondering how to get certified. With the right certification, you can become a qualified and knowledgeable life coach who can help people live healthier and more fulfilling lives.

In this comprehensive guide, you will learn all about the different life coaching certifications available and how to get certified. With the right certificate in hand, you can become a professional life coach and make your dreams a reality.

The Importance of Certification for Professional Life Coaches

Life coaching certifications typically include courses focusing on leadership, communication, decision-making, influence, and emotional intelligence. These courses will help you gain the skills and knowledge you need to become a successful life coach.

The International Coach Federation (ICF) is a widely recognized accreditation body for life coaching certifications. The ICF offers several different certification levels for life coaches, ranging from basic to advanced. Depending on the level of certification you choose, you may need to complete an ICF-approved training program or apprenticeship before you can receive your certification.

Universities Offering Accredited Life Coach Certifications

In addition to ICF-accredited life coach training, many universities also offer accredited life coach certifications. These certifications are usually offered at the graduate school level and may require you to complete a certain number of course hours or pass a final examination.

When deciding which life coach certification to pursue, it is important to consider the type of life coaching you want to do. If you want to focus on career or business coaching, you may want to look into a certification program that specifically focuses on those topics. Additionally, if you plan to work with clients with mental health issues, a certification program specializing in mental health coaching could be beneficial.

Once you have identified the right certification program for you, be sure to research and ensure the program is reputable. Read reviews, do a background check on the organization, and make sure the certification you receive is valid and recognized.

Continuing Education in Life Coaching

Finally, once you have obtained your life coach certification, it is important to continue your education and stay on top of the latest trends and techniques in life coaching. This will ensure that you remain up-to-date on the latest practices and stay ahead of the competition.

Life Coach Certifications

The idea of accreditation might be unclear in an unregulated business. It’s important to consider where someone obtained their certification whenever they claim to be a professional life coach because you want to ensure this person got their certification from a reputable agency.

The International Coaching Federation (ICF) and the National Board for Health & Wellness Coaching are two well-known organizations for granting coaching credentials (NBHWC)

The following is a study that was done in 2020 by the Internation Coaching Federation which portrays the importance of training and certification by both coach practitioners and leaders/managers that use coaching skills frequently.

The study shows that almost all coach practitioners (99%) claim to have had coach-specific training. Increasingly, training is becoming through programs accredited/approved by a professional coaching body (93%, up from 89% in the 2016 research).

93% of managers/leaders who use coaching skills have had some coach-specific training, with 79% of such training coming from formal programs.
accreditation/approval by a professional coaching body

Life Coach Education and Qualifications

There are no formal education requirements for those who want to work as life coaches, yet 55% have a bachelor’s degree, and 21% have a master’s. Remember that certification programs may establish their own educational standards for applicants, such as the requirement of an associate degree for application.

Focus on social sciences or counseling if you’re obtaining a degree and want to look into subjects related to life coaching. Since many common coaching approaches use methodologies and practices created in those professions, psychology, business, or social work are some degree options to think about.

How To Become A Certified Life Coach

The kind of certification you select will determine your path to becoming a certified life coach. Often, passing the educational requirement is the first step toward certification, which is then followed by any necessary coaching hours and an exam.

You’ll be able to explore the specific requirements for that credential once you’ve chosen your certifying body of choice—whether that’s ICF, NBHWC, or any other program.

Learn more about how to become a certified life coach.

Search Programs

Get information on programs by entering your zip code and request enrollment information.

Sponsored Listings